Moving target device with extendable target carrier



Sept. 29, 19,70 s, ROSS ETAL MOVING TARGET DEVICE WITH EXTENDABLE TARGET CARRIER Filed April 29. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l ou om EHU; f

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JNVENI'ORS: HENRY S. Ross AND MHRQINE F? WOLVERTON 5MM@ THEIR.. ATTORNEY.

Sept. 29, 1970 Ross ETAL 3,531,120

MOVING TARGET DEVICE WITH EXTENDABLE TARGET CARRIER FiledApril 29, lesa 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @img/HMM@ 3 Sheets-'Sheet 5 THE/1 AIIORNEX.

a N o mi W 15m V,N 0^/ mu u em} vm mm Nv @v Sept. 29, 1970 H. s. Ross e-rAL MOVING TARGET DEVICE WITH EXTENDABLE TARGET CARRIER Filed April 29. 196e 3,531,120 MOVING TARGET DEVICE WITH EXTENDABLE TARGET CARRIER Henry S. Ross and Marcine P. Wolverton, Franklin Park, Ill., assignors to Midway Manufacturing Company,

Franklin Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 724,820

Int. Cl. A63b 63/04, 67/10 U.S. Cl. 273-1051 9 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A moving target having a random trajectory through varying coordinates of a planar system, resulting from a drive mechanism, including reversible motors selectively energized. The apparatus includes a support for a movable target carriage which is adapted to be reciprocally moved over the supporting member out of an open simulated target area. The target carriage carries an elongated target carrier supporting member that extends transversely to its path of movement over the supporting member. Mounted on the target carrier supporting member is an extendable target carrier which is adapted to move relative to the long axis of the target carrier supporting member into and through the open target area. Associated with the reversible motors which can be selectively energized are mechanisms for extendably moving the target carrier as well as for independently moving the target carriage over the supporting member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A moving target designed though not limited for use in amusement game apparatuses with the target movable through a random trajectory, resulting from moving a target carriage through one coordinate of a planar system, and moving the target unit through another coordinate of the system with the movement of each being independent and simultaneous as their respective drive mechanisms are energized.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment of the invention and in which FIG. l is a perspective view of an amusement game apparatus in which the present invention might be incorporated,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the moving target apparatus,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the movable target element,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the moving target element,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the target element in an extended position,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the drive release mechanism for the target element, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of circuit making styluses incorporated in the target apparatus.

As viewed in FIG. 1 one embodiment of the target apparatus of this invention is disposed in the base of a cabinet 10, which also houses a series of strategically placed mirrors whereby the target image is reflected in depth in an open target area through a vertical transparent plate 11 disposed in front of a gun 12 mouted on the cabinet for universal movement with respect thereto, all in a manner Well known in the art, and `which generally does not constitute a part of the present invention.

The target apparatuses heretofore known included a target element that reciprocally moved through a vertical path across a target area, or included a plurality of target elements each having a prescribed path of movement, and

lUnited States Patent ICC each being independently moved in a predetermined sequence. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a moving target which will have a random undetermined trajectory.

Within the base of the cabinet 10 disposed in a generally horizontal plane and out of the line of sight reflected in the mirrors, is the drive mechanism for the moving target apparatus. As viewed in FIG. 2, one unit of the drive mechanism includes a frame structure consisting of side panels 13 and 14 separated by parallelly extending guide rods 15 and 16. Each of the side panels 13 and 14 support therebetween an L-shaped shelf 17. Connected at one end of the vertical flange of the L- shaped shelf 17 adjacent panel 13 is an electrical reversible motor 18 (shown in dotted outline), which through a driven shaft 19 rotates a sprocket 20. An endless chain 21 is threaded about the sprocket 20 as Well as a driven sprocket 22 carried by a bracket mounted on the other panel 14. The sprocket 22 by a rotatable shaft 23 extending parallel to the panel 14 is connected to a like sprocket 24 which in turn through a second endless chain 25 is connected to another sprocket 26 carried by the panel 13. The endless chains 21 and 25 are disposed to lie beneath the parallel guide rods 15 and 16, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2.

Supported on the guide rods 15 and 16 is a target carriage 27. The target carriage 27 comprises a base plate 28 which on its underside carries a reversible motor 29. The base plate 28 provides at each end U-shaped brackets 30 supporting roller members 31 which bear upon the guide rods 15 and 1-6. One arm of each of the U-shaped brackets 30 provide a vertical support 32 which carry therebetween a stationary rack 'bar 33 that extends in a spaced parallel plane -with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base plate 28 as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The top surface of the rack bar 33 is provided with gear teeth 34 which are engageable by a pinion wheel 3S journaled between the side Walls 36 and 37 of a target carrier 38. The side walls 36 and 37 of the carrier 38 extend to either side and beneath the bar 33 so as to be positioned thereon for movement longitudinally thereover. Between the walls 36 and 37 of the carrier 38 is an extension arm 39 which has its underside geared as at 40 and in engagement with the pinion wheel 35. The one end of the arm 39 is connected by a spring 41 to the corresponding end of the carrier 38. The arrangement is such that when the carrier 38 is moved longitudinally on the bar 33 in a manner hereinafter explained, the bar 33 as well as the arm 39 will function as racks on the pinion wheel 35 to cause independent longitudinal movement of the arm 39 out of one end of the carrier 38 -while the carrier is simultaneously moved longitudinally over the bar 33, such as is shown in FIG. 5.

Carried by the base plate 28 of the carrier 38 and extending in a spaced parallel vertical plane with respect to the side wall 37 of the carrier 38 is a printed circuit plate 42. Attached to the side wall 37 of the carrier 38 is a leaf spring 43 having a contact 44 at its free end which is caused to move over the circuit plate 42 as the carrier 38 is moved longitudinally on the bar 33. The `circuit plate 42 has printed thereon a plurality of current conductive strips 45 which are in turn connected by suitable conductors to other portions of the game apparatus, all of which will be hereinafter identified.

To effect longitudinal movement of the target carrier 38 over the rack bar 33 there is provided a drive wheel 46 xedly carried on a shaft 47 journaled through the base plate 28 of the carrier 38 and rotated by the reversible motor 29 carried by the underside of the base plate 28. This drive wheel 46 has its peripheral edge in contact with a peripheral` edge portion of a pulley wheel 48 carried by an arm 49 pivotally connected to the base plate 28 as at 50. The opposite end of the arm 49 is connected as at 51 to one end of an armature 52 of a solenoid 53. The free end of the arm 49 as well as the armature 52 is held in a normal or extended position with respect to the solenoid 53 by a spring 54 connected as at 55 to the arm 49 and to a post 56 carried by the base plate 28.

The pulley wheel 48 by means of a cable 57 is connected as at 58 to one corner of the wall 36 of the target carrier 38 so that when the motor 29 is energized it will effect rotation of the drive wheel 46, which in turn will rotate the pulley wheel 48 to wind thereon the cable 57, which in turn will pull the target carrier 38 longitudinally in one direction over the rack bar 33. Through the rack and pinion connection between the rack bar 33 and the extension arm 39 a target element 59 connected to the free end of the arm 39 as well as the target carrier 38 will 'be caused to move longitudinally from its position as shown in FIG. 3 to the position in the open simulated target area shown in FIG. 5.

The directional energization of the motor 29 is randomly effected by a scoring circuit which makes up no part of the present invention. However, in the event that through the proper operation of the gun 12 as hereinafter described a hit is made on the target element 59 during its movement relative to the carrier 38, the solenoid 53 will be energized, thus retracting its armature 51, pivoting the arm 49 and the pulley wheel 48 carried thereby out of engagement with the periphery of the drive wheel 46, permitting the target element 59 and its extension arm 39 to be retracted from the simulated target area to their original position by the spring 54 which has become extended as the carrier 38 was caused to move in one direction over the stationary rack bar 33, so as to return the carrier 38 as well as the target element 59 to their original position as shown in FIG. 3. In such position by proper circuitry the solenoid 53 will be deenergized, and by the action of the spring 54 the arm 49 and pulley wheel 48 will be pivoted back into driving engagement with the drive wheel 46.

At either end of the carriage 27 there are provided depending lugs 60` which in any suitable manner may be connected to the endless chains 21 and 25. By this arrangement when the motor 18 is energized the carriage 27 will be caused to move over the guide rods 15 and 16 between the side panels 13 and 14 which define the area through which the carriage 27 may be moved.

The gun 12 provides within the cabinet 10 a rotatable sleeve 61 which has pivotally thereto as at 62 one end of a stylus 63 which is adapted to move over a printed circuit board '64 carried by a mounting bracket 65 connected to the underside of a portion of the cabinet as seen in FIG. 7. The stylus 63 is freely supported on a support arm 66 suspended beneath the wall portion of the cabinet 10. The contact point 67 of the stylus 63 by a suitable conductor is connected to printed circuit strips 68 carried on the horizontal flange portion 69 of the L-shaped shelf 17 (see FIG. 2). Each of the strips 68 is then in turn connected by suitable conductors to corresponding circuit strips on the printed circuit board 64, which extend in the direction of the long axis of the stylus 63.

Within the hollow sleeve 61 is an independent post 70 which has pivotally connected thereto as at 71 a second stylus 72. The contact point 73 of the second stylus 72 is adapted to be moved over the circuit board 74 carried by a bracket 75 connected to a wall portion of the cabinet 10. The contact point 73 of the second stylus 72 is connected to the current conductive strips 45 formed on the circuit plate 42 as carried by the target carrier 27. These current conductive strips 45 are each in turn connected to corresponding conductive strips 76 formed on the circuit board 74, and which extend transversely to the long axis of the stylus 72.

By this arrangement as the carriage 27 is caused to move reciprocally over the guide rods 15 and 1'6 by the energization of the motor 18, leaf switches 77 (see FIG. 4) connected to and carried beneath the electric motor 29 on the carriage 27, will be caused to move over the circuit strips 68 positioned therebelow. If the gun 12 is rotated about a vertical axis so that the target sight thereof is in continuous alignment with the horizontal movement of the carriage 27, the stylus 63 as carried by the rotatable sleeve 61 of the gun mount will move its contact point y67 across the circuit strips on the printed circuit plate 64, and it will engage corresponding circuit strips thereon so that a circuit is completed therethrough.

If the line of sight of the gun 12 is continuously moved through a vertical plane about a horizontal axis, the stylus 72 will independently of the stylus 63 move its contact point across the strips 76 on the circuit plate 74, and if it corresponds to the positioning of the contact 44 of the switch 43 mounted on the target carrier 38 as it moves over the circuit strips 45 of the circuit plate 42 carried by the carriage 27, a circuit will be completed thereto. If the operator has closed the trigger switch of the gun 12, the solenoid 53 will be energized and the target element 59 will be released from a hit position so as to be retracted into its normal position as heretofore described.

From the foregoing description there is provided a target apparatus included within a planar system in which the target carriage 27 and target carrier 38 are moved along either or both X or Y coordinates of the system. The target carriage 27 is moved along the X coordinate by the motor 18 and its associated parts, while the target carrier 38 is moved along the Y coordinate by its motor 29 and associated parts. The duration and direction of operativeness of the motors 18 and 29 can be simultaneous or independent and responsive to any arbitrary control system associated therewith, such as by way of example, a scoring circuitry responsive to the hits made upon the moving target element 59 as hereinbefore described.

While we have illustrated and descirbed a preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of all variations and modifications that come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A target apparatus including a target having a random trajectory through an open simulated target area comprising:

(a) a supporting means for a movable target carriage to one side of and out of the open target area,

(b) a target carriage reciprocally movable over said supporting means out of the target area,

(c) means for reciprocally moving said target carriage over said supporting means,

(d) an elongated target carrier support member mounted on said target carriage and extending transversely to its path of movement over said supporting means,

(e) an extendable target carrier mounted on said target carrier support member and movable relative to the long axis thereof from an overlying position with respect thereto and to said supporting means to an extended position beyond one end of said target carrier support member and one side of said supporting means into and through the open target area,

(f) means for interconnecting said target carrier to said target carrier support member for independent extendable movement relative to the long axis thereof and to said supporting means,

(g) means for moving said target carrier longitudinally of said target carrier support member and transversely to the path of movement of said target carriage into and through the open target area; and

(h) means for disconnecting said moving means from said target carrier so as to permit said target carrier to independently move one direction relative to said target carrier support member out of the open target area.

2. A target apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for reciprocally moving said target carriage over said supporting means includes a reversible electric motor having driving connection with said target carriage.

3. A target apparatus as defined by claim I1 wherein said means interconnecting said target carrier to said target carrier support member comprises a rack and pinion arrangement wherein said target carrier support member provides a stationary gear rack and the target carrier povides a movable gear rack disposed on opposite sides of a pinion wheel carried by said target carrier.

`4. A target apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said means for reciprocally moving said target carriage over said supporting means includes a reversible electric motor having driving connection with said target carriage.

5. A target apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for moving said target carrier over said target carrier support member comprises a rnotor driven drive wheel in contact with a pivotal pulley wheel carried by said target carriage and about which is wound a connecting cable between said pulley wheel and said target carrier.

6. A target apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said means interconnecting said target carrier to said said means for disconnecting said motor driven drive wheel from said pivotal pulley wheel comprises an electrically energized solenoid connected to said pivotal pulley wheel, and adapted to pivot the same out of contact with said drive wheel.

8. A target apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for disconnecting said moving means from said target carrier includes an electrically energized solenoid connected to a portion of said moving means for pivoting the same out of driving connection between said target carrier and said moving means.

9. A target apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein said means interconnecting said target carrier to said target carrier support member comprises a rack and pinion arrangement wherein said target carrier support member provides a stationary gear rack and the target carrier provide a movable gear rack disposed on opposite sides of a pinion wheel carried by said target carrier.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,572,146y 10/1951 Henry 273-1052 2,703,240 3/1955 Flory 273-1052 2,726,870 12/ 1955 Auger 273-1052, 2,826,828 3/1958 Hamilton 273-1052 X 2,992,004 7/1961 Glass et al 273-1052 X FOREIGN PATENTS 533,857 2/1941 Great Britain.

ANTON 0. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner T. ZACK, Assistant IExaminer U.S. C1. X.R. 

